No CPM book stall in Puja pandals for Sharodotsav: CM
Times of India | 11 September 2026Speaking in the assembly, he alleged that sections of the Left were selectively targeting Sanatan Dharma and the saffron colour.
“A section of professors, who are so-called Leftists, are attacking sanatanis. They are selectively targeting the saffron colour.”
Making a direct appeal to puja organisers to deny space to CPM-associated stalls using the term ‘Sharodotsav’, the CM said, “I would ask all Durga Puja committees that if the Communists write ‘Sharodotsav’ (autumn festival) instead of ‘Durga Puja’ at the book stalls they set up, they should not be allowed to operate.”
CPM and its affiliates have traditionally put up book stalls near Durga Puja pandals, selling Marxist literature, party publications and other books. The practice dates to 1954, when the first such CPM-associated stall was set up at Park Circus on the initiative of veteran Communist leader Muzaffar Ahmed.
He also warned of strict action against those opposing Sanatan Dharma or the saffron colour.
“This is the right time to pull out and cast away the seeds that the Communists have sown in this land that gave birth to ideas like that of Naxalism,” Adhikari said.
The CM then turned his attack into a call for a political “battle”, telling BJP legislators: “Let there be an all-out war against them which may last three months.”
When he asked the BJP MLAs whether they were ready for the “battle”, the legislators responded with a resounding “yes”.
CPM state secretary Md Salim retorted , calling Adhikari’s remarks a “fascist attack” and accusing him of using his constitutional position to inflame religious sentiment.
“These are fascist attacks to provoke the Bajrangis who set fire to party offices at night and carry out vandalism on institution campuses,” he said.
Questioning the CM’s authority to dictate what should be written on book-stall signboards, Salim said the govt should focus instead on education, health, industry, employment, commerce, price rise and civic amenities.
Defending the term ‘Sharodotsav’, Salim said autumn festivals had historically been associated with agrarian societies across Asia and cited Rabindranath Tagore’s ‘Sharodatsav’, ‘Poush Mela’, ‘Barshamangal’ and ‘Basanta Utsav’.
Linguist Pabitra Sarkar questioned the legal basis as well as the propriety of the CM’s remarks.
“Whether the statement is legally valid is something he has to consider. I believe the court will have the final say. The court will decide what the difference is between ‘Sharodotsav’ and ‘Durga Puja’,” Sarkar said.
Criticising the CM for framing the issue as a confrontation with an “enemy”, Sarkar said, “ “I think it would be better if the CM did not make such statements. He is fighting by assuming an enemy camp. That does not behove a chief minister,” he added.
On the linguistic distinction between the two terms, Sarkar said ‘Durga Puja’ has a literal meaning, while ‘Sharodotsav’ has acquired a specific cultural connotation.
“One word has a literal meaning — Durga’s festival. ‘Sharodotsav’ is a connotation. There is generally no other festival referred to as ‘Sharodotsav’. Eid may take place in autumn, but it is not called Sharodotsav. So, by connotation, Sharodotsav has come to mean Durga Puja,” he said.
